The Influence of Mountains on Climate

地形对天气和气候的三个最重要的影响是：山地风和重力波、地形降水和热环流。对于这三种现象，一些基本的物理元素已经被理解，但在将形式理论与现实世界联系起来方面仍然存在严重的困难。在这三个科目中，问题都是一样的。这些理论还不够先进，无法与完整的数值模拟和观测结果联系起来。没有这种联系，科学进步就会放缓。最近几个月，首席研究员在这三个领域开发了新的分析方法；有望为中尺度山地气象学研究提供更为坚实的理论基础。根据现场数据和数值模型对这些理论方法进行扩展和测试是当前项目的目标。*山波与边界层（BL）：研究山波与山波相互作用的新理论方法。目的是了解BLs如何在复杂地形中控制波的产生、波阻力和波动量通量、地形降水和地面风场。*地形降水：结合卫星数据、同位素数据和实地项目的特殊数据，将检验一种新的地形降水理论，并在必要时加以扩展。*热环流：一种新的日热环流理论正在发展；包括旋转和剪切。这一理论将在海风和山区的常规地表压力数据中进行检验。在本研究过程中，首席研究员将参与地形诱导旋翼实验。智力优势：该方法与其他小组的不同之处在于它强调理论分析和新的观察技术。当成功的理论得以发展时，新知识的传播就会加速。将强调大气动力学在区域气候问题上的应用。更广泛的影响：通过推进大气物理学的知识，这项研究将有助于天气和气候预报的数值模型开发和测试。这项工作还将对地球科学的广泛领域产生影响，如区域气候、古气候、古高程、冰川学、景观演化、中大气动力学、示踪剂扩散和风能。学生将从参与现场、实验室和数据分析活动中获得经验和动力。

The three most important orographic influences on weather and climate are: mountain induced winds and gravity waves, orographic precipitation and thermal circulations. For these three phenomena, some of the basic physical elements are understood but there remain serious difficulties in connecting formal theory with the real world. In all three subjects, the problem is the same. The theories have not advanced enough to connect with results from full numerical modeling and observation. Without this connection, scientific progress has slowed. In recent months, new analytical approaches in all three areas have been developed by the Principal Investigator; promising to provide a more solid theoretical foundation for mesoscale mountain meteorology. The extension and testing of these theoretical approaches against field data and numerical models is a goal of this current project. The Principal Investigator will attack three topics:* Mountain waves and Boundary Layers (BL): A new theoretical approach to the interactions of BLs and mountain waves will be investigated. The goal is to understand how BLs control the generation of waves, wave drag and wave momentum flux, orographic precipitation, and surface winds fields in complex terrain. * Orographic precipitation: Using a combination of satellite data, isotope data and special data from field projects, a new theory of orographic precipitation will tested and, if necessary, extended. * Thermal circulations: A new theory of diurnal thermal circulations is being developed; including rotation and shear. This theory will be tested against conventional surface pressure data in sea breeze and mountain regions. In the course of this research the Principal Investigator will contribute to the Terrain Induced Rotor Experiment.Intellectual Merit: The approach differs from that of other groups by its emphasis on theoretical analysis and new observational techniques. When successful theories can be developed, the dissemination of new knowledge is accelerated. Applications of atmospheric dynamics to questions of regional climate will be emphasized. Broader Impacts: By advancing knowledge of atmospheric physics, the research will contribute to numerical model development and testing for weather and climate forecasting. The work will also have an impact on broad areas of geoscience such as regional climate, paleo-climate, paleoaltimetry, glaciology, landscape evolution, middle atmosphere dynamics, tracer dispersal, and wind energy. Students will gain experience and motivation from participation in field, laboratory and data analysis activities.